Why supporting opportunity is important to all of us

For individuals, a college education is essential to getting the skills to land a good job and build a successful career. For employers, it’s a workforce prerequisite for growing and maintaining a successful business. And because earnings generally go up with educational attainment, it’s also important to every community’s tax base.

Why CLC students need help to afford college

With flat state funding and a local property tax cap, the college has had to meet rising costs through tuition and fee increases. Though CLC is still students’ most-affordable option, many students can little afford these increases. About one in four of our students receives some form of financial aid. And in a county with an average household income of nearly $80,000, the neediest of our students come from families with an annual income of under $23,000.

What we’re doing to help

Over the last five years, the CLC Foundation has awarded $2.26 million in scholarships, making between $300,000 and $500,000 in awards each year. Now, we’re challenging ourselves to do more. We’ve developed a new strategic plan and set a goal to double our annual scholarship support by 2020.

How you can support us

You can support scholarships by making a donation to scholarships in general or you can restrict your gift to go to a specific CLC Foundation. You can also designate your gift to go to a new scholarship with award criteria of your choosing. In addition, you can attend one of our fundraising events, become a sponsor of an event or participate through planned giving.

“I rediscovered my love of chemistry at CLC. My professor was such a great teacher and passionate about chemistry that it was easy to go to class and learn.”

Michael Hopf

Completed Truck Driver Training Program

“I chose CLC’s Small Business Development Center for guidance and help meeting people who have already gone through the process of starting a business. They are a great team of experts to have on my side.”

Peter Keres

Entrepreneur, owner of Aristaeus

“I became the first community college student accepted as an intern at a newsroom in Erie, Penn., thanks to my experiences on The CLC Chronicle and working with Professor Kupetz. That first internship opened many doors for me.”

Rose Anne De Leon

College of Lake County, ’07; B.A., Northeastern Illinois University ’10, now a copy editor for Shaw Media.

“I am currently working part-time as a paralegal while enrolled as a full-time student in Roosevelt University’s Paralegal Studies program. If I had not received the education I had from CLC, I would not have the part-time job.”

Sally E. Fleissner

A.A.S., Paralegal Studies, ’13; now working on a bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University.

“CLC was great preparation for transfer to a four-year school. I got comfortable with my abilities, and I was confident when I transferred to NIU. At CLC, I was also able to explore different courses and my interests.”